2025 Open Championship Free Picks, Predictions and DFS Lineup July 17-20

2025 Open Championship Preview- Golf Free Picks

WagerTalk golf handicapper Andy Lang offers his thoughts on the Open Championship teeing off from Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Andy discusses his DraftKings Darlings, golfers to who can trip you up and the course and more surrounding the 2025 Open Championship teeing off on July 17!

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2025 Open Championship	2025 Open Championship Betting Notes
When:	July 17-20
Where:	Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland
Defending Champ:	Xander Schauffele
Current Favorite:	Scottie Scheffler (+450 at DraftKings)
TV:	NBC, USA Network

2025 Open Championship Course Preview

The 153rd Open Championship returns to the dramatic Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, hosted from July 17–20, 2025.

This par-71 layout stretches approximately 7,380 yards, winding  through rugged dunes, steep elevation changes, and panoramic coastal views.

Its design, refined by Harry Colt with modern touches, emphasizes classic links features: firm fairways, deep bunkers, strategic pot hazards, and slick greens with treacherous run-offs. 

Signature holes like “Calamity Corner” (16th), a 236-yard par-3 poised over a ravine, carry a  reputation for wrecking scorecards, along with the treacherous 1st hole that can ruin a round just  as it starts.

A series of finishing holes with blind tee shots, massive slopes, and severe bunkering creates a nerve-testing conclusion to each round.

Players must combine precise iron play, creative shot-making, and rugged course management to handle the tough routing and coastal winds. 

The coastal weather this week looks changeable, with rain showers possible each day, adding an element of unpredictability although not a lot of moisture if any.

Wind and damp conditions will firm up the course quickly if rain comes, tightening fairways and activating the fast greens. Even par may prove a strong score if the winds blow and the links run fast, but if the weather holds to be nice, the score could get to double digits under par for the winner.

The field boasts top contenders like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and defending champion Xander Schauffele, but in true Open Championship fashion, surprises and breakthrough  performances are always possible. 

**As of now the weather looks to be really good. Warm, not much wind, and very little rain in the forecast.

2025 Open Championship Favorite Holes

Favorite Hole: 1st Hole 416 Yard Par 4

Out of bounds on the left and right sides of the fairway make the tee shot treacherous to start the  round, and there’s massive trouble on the left side off the green with a deep bunker, and deep rough.

It’s a short hole, but really difficult if not accurate off the tee, and it can set the tone (good or bad) for the rest of the round. Great starting hole.

18th Hole Rating: 6.2

Pretty good finishing hole as it finished as the 3rd hardest hole in 2019. The drive has out of bounds really close to the left side of the fairway, and dangerous rough on the right, and the fairway gets very narrow, really quick so players might take iron or 3-wood off the tee.

The green doesn’t look too difficult, but run off areas make for some testy chips. On the surface, it  doesn’t look to difficult, but 2019 showed it can play hard and create some drama on Sunday.

2025 Open Championship: Players That Can Trip You Up

Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite this week, but there are enough reasons to stay away at this price.

He’s never finished better than 7th at an Open Championship and settled for 8th last week at the Scottish Open—not exactly dominant on links-style setups.

While he ranks 3rd in total strokes gained over the last 30 days, his putting remains a concern, sitting outside the Top 30 in that same span.

At this number, you need near-perfection, and links golf just hasn’t brought out his best. He’s a pass for us this week. 

Shane Lowry is being heavily overpriced this week, largely due to his memorable win here in  2019—but that feels like a trap.

He’s missed the cut in both majors this year and has been ice cold statistically, ranking outside the Top 50 in total strokes gained over the last 3 months— behind names like Kristoffer Reitan, Mattias Schmid, and Max Greyserman.

Despite the 2019 win, he’s only recorded one Top 5 in Open Championships and has five missed cuts to his name. At his current odds, there’s zero value—this is a hard pass. 

Bryson DeChambeau has been in the spotlight lately, but this course is a poor fit for his power heavy game.

He can’t bulldoze his way around a layout that demands precision, patience, and a sharp short game—three areas that aren’t his strengths.

He’s missed the cut and finished 60th in  his last two Open Championship appearances, and he also missed the cut here back in 2019. At a venue where local knowledge and finesse matter most, Bryson is an easy fade this week.

Open Championship DraftKings Darlings 

Jordan Smith ($5,900) is a steal at this price with a rock-solid track record in big events. He’s missed just two cuts all year on the DP World Tour, made the cut at the U.S. Open, and followed that up with a strong 22nd-place finish at the Scottish Open—proving he can handle links golf. 

He’s also made the cut in two of his last three Open Championship starts. At $5,900, Smith offers rare stability and major experience at near basement pricing. 

Harry Hall ($6,400) is one of the most consistent value plays on the slate this week. He’s made 12 straight cuts and has finished inside the Top 40 in eight consecutive starts—delivering steady returns in both DFS and betting markets.

Over the last 3 months, he ranks 21st in the field in total strokes gained, showing his all-around game is in great shape. At this price, you’re getting a reliable performer with sneaky top-25 upside. 

Matthew Fitzpatrick ($7,800) looks like a perfect blend of form, value, and pedigree heading into this week.

He’s coming off back-to-back Top 10 finishes, including a 4th-place showing at the Scottish Open, and his game is clearly peaking at the right time. A major winner with five  straight made cuts at The Open, he knows how to navigate tough setups.

He also ranks 10th in the field in total strokes gained over the last 30 days. At $7,800, Fitzpatrick is one of the best all around plays on the board.

Rest Of Lineup: Jordan Smith $5900, Harry Hall $6400, Matthew Fitzpatrick $7800, Robert  MacIntyre $9000, Xander Schauffele $9700, Jon Rahm $10,400

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